No NBA team drafted Houston Rockets SG Garrison Mathews, and it seems likely few did in any typical fantasy basketball league, either. Still, he has found his way onto the ESPN Fantasy most-added list because he is hitting a ton of 3-pointers.
We like made 3-pointers, whether in roto or points leagues, and Mathews, a Lipscomb product in his third NBA season, has made five starts in place of injured rookie Jalen Green and made the most of them. He is showing no conscience firing away and I, for one, absolutely love it.
Nobody is saying you have to trade for Mathews, who does little else for a fantasy roster, but it seems pertinent to point out his recent work. He has started five games, averaging 16.4 PPG at a 54% clip on overall field goals, and attempting more than eight 3-point attempts per game. That is wild! He is 21-for-43 on 3-pointers in five games!
The Rockets, by the way, have not lost for weeks (a weak schedule helps), perhaps not directly because of Mathews, but then again, perhaps because the wildly inefficient and inaccurate Green is not playing. Neither is a defensive maven. How can they just sit Mathews when Green returns? Other teams know why Mathews is out there, it still has not mattered and yes, I realize nobody can hit half their 3-pointers for long. For the season, Mathews averages 6.9 3-point attempts per game, and 8.0 field goal attempts. He is not out there shooting layups.
Attempting eight 3-pointers per game is not really so odd, by the way. The incomparable Stephen Curry averages 13.2 3-point attempts per game, but there are 15 others at eight or more attempts per game. It happens. What I wonder is why Mathews cannot continue to attempt eight 3-pointers per game even when Green returns, and be the Rockets' version of Miami Heat SG/SF Duncan Robinson? The Rockets want to win, right? They seem to enjoy it after so many struggles.
There is room to play Mathews, if he keeps shooting well, with fellow 3-point lover Eric Gordon (whom they would love to trade). The Rockets are among the top 10 teams in 3-pointers made and attempted per game. It works for them. It works for us. Let us see how this goes.
What does this diatribe have to do with a weekly fantasy hoops trade column? Well, trading for Mathews is obviously a tough sell at this point, unless one desperately needs 3-pointers, which I do in a league. Trading for Green, in a redraft league, also makes little sense for today, even if he makes it back on the court soon. He is not a playmaker, at least so far, and he has had much trouble hitting shots, though little trouble getting them.
Fellow guard Kevin Porter Jr. has been even worse shooting the ball, and he has been a turnover machine. It is a young, messy backcourt. Trade for PF/C Christian Wood and hope he stays healthy, and perhaps soon the other Rocket we deal for is actually Mathews.
OK, here is the latest edition of the Trade Index! We are into December now and if you continue to roster someone that has yet to make his season debut, well, it may be a while longer. If anyone wants to trade you something usable for the unvaccinated Brooklyn Nets SG or the unhappy Philadelphia 76ers PG, go for it.
Trade for
Brandon Ingram, SF/PF, New Orleans Pelicans: ICYMI, the ESPN Fantasy hoops crew recently answered a query about how the pending return of superstar PF Zion Williamson would affect C Jonas Valanciunas, No. 9 on our Player Rater. Our answers were varied and interesting. No, I cannot make a great case to trade for Valanciunas staying at quite this level, but I also doubt Williamson stays healthy the next four months. Ingram is providing numbers similar to what he did a season ago, but after his 40-point effort on Sunday, I think even better days are pending, even with Williamson returning soon. Stop betting on Williamson's health.
Richaun Holmes, PF/C, Sacramento Kings: I know I have mentioned this before in this space, but Holmes just continues to improve! He made all 12 of his field goal attempts in a game last week, and he is close to averaging double-digit rebounds for the season, while hitting 70% of his field goals! Holmes does not mess with 3-point attempts. He knows his strengths and hey, good for him. Such an underrated player. I know you may not like it, but the Kings boast only one top-50 fantasy option these days, and it is not De'Aaron Fox. (He should end up in the top 50 eventually, though). Today, it is Holmes and nobody else!
Trade away
Caris LeVert, SG/SF, Indiana Pacers: He scored 27 points in a weekend game, needing 10 free throws to get there, and maybe that is the impetus one needs to move him. I would call his season numbers disappointing and unlikely to improve. LeVert not only used to score more, but he accrued assists, steals and more 3-pointers. It is great he is playing at all, after the kidney scare of last season -- and that is more important -- but shooting 25% on 3-pointers with little sign of improvement is an issue. Rookie Chris Duarte deserves more minutes and may be the better option, and the 24-year-old rookie is readily available.
Jordan Clarkson, SG, Utah Jazz: Forget about him winning sixth man honors a season ago. This version of the player will not duplicate the feat; he's shooting 29% on 3-pointers (and 37% from the field) and, again, there is no end in sight. Perhaps his name value gets you a player in return that it should not. Frankly, newcomer PF Rudy Gay is better of late in fewer minutes, hitting his shots and offering some boards.
More information needed
Tim Hardaway Jr., SG/SF, Dallas Mavericks: Want some odd numbers, albeit in a small sample? Hardaway averaged 14 PPG as a starter, shooting poorly from the field and scoring inconsistently. In three games since moving to the bench, he is averaging 19 PPG. A season ago, Hardaway averaged 18.6 PPG starting, 15.1 PPG off the bench. We know what Hardaway is, but I am intrigued to see if this narrative continues.